Friday, 18 November 2016

32 Sri Lankans join Islamic state group in Iraq: Minister

32 Sri Lankans join Islamic state group in Iraq: Minister

Colombo: Thirty-two Sri Lankans have joined the
Islamic State terror group in Iraq, a senior minister informed
parliament on Friday and vowed to implement the proposed tough counter
terrorism Act to protect national security.

"We are aware that 32 of them have left the country to join Islamic
State (ISIS)," Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha said during the
2017 budget debate.
Rajapaksha said Sri Lanka would go ahead as planned on the proposed Counter Terrorism Act despite criticism.

"We know that there is criticism on the proposed act but we have to
consider our security interests. You may call it draconian but we will
implement it," Rajapaksha said.
He said some vested interests were trying to create instability in
the country by igniting communal clashes. We have to deal with this
situation, Rajapaksha said.

Some groups were trying to brand the northern criminal group Ava as
the LTTE. We have to be alert on these actions to create problems in the
north, he said.
The police have arrested over a dozen of alleged Ava group members
accused of perpetrating violence in the north. All of them have been
placed under remand custody.
The locals and Tamil groups have levelled criticism on the proposed anti-terrorism bill.
The main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) described it as
more draconian than the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).